SHYLOCK: A LEGEND AND ITS LEGACY

Rating:
Summary: A Fine Study Of One Of Literature's Controversial Characters
Review: Shylock is a name that conjures up many images , most of them unfavorable. He is perhaps Shakespeare's most controversial character and has presented a challenge to both audiences and performers over the centuries. John Gross has produced a very well written and thought provoking study of Shylock. Of value is the detailing of the changing view of him over the years which has gone from comic to evil to sympathetic. How various actors have presented him is also discussed. In the end a book with an appeal both historical and literary.